Crowds gather in Old Town Clovis under sunny skies for the 2023 Clovis Rodeo Parade

The streets of Old Town Clovis were packed with an estimated 15,000 parade-watchers on a picture-perfect Saturday morning as Corvettes, old trucks and pretty horses promenaded with lots of pageantry and fanfare during the 109th annual Clovis Rodeo Parade.

With three days of bull riding, mutton busting and steer wrestling already in the books, the annual Clovis Rodeo will roll to a close at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds on Sunday.

Saturday’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo will include a special salute to veterans of the United States military and a dance beginning at 7:30 pm. Sunday’s final rodeo performance begins at 2 pm.

Saturday’s parade included marching bands from Clark Intermediate and Clovis North High School as well as many mounted horse entries like the dozens carrying flags of the Clovis Rodeo Association sponsors. Parade organizers said there were about 140 total entries.

Angelina Renteria of Fowler stood on Clovis Avenue while holding son Jaden, 2, who cheered on the horses as they trotted by.

“It’s awesome,” said Renteria, who said her son likes to watch the cars and horses and calls out “policeman!” for any law enforcement officer in the parade. “Even if it’s a sheriff or anything, he just says ‘policeman,’” she said laughing.

The parade’s co-grand marshals were lifelong friends and longtime rodeo volunteers Judy Hedrick and Susan Frantzich. Both have been responsible for coordinating and building the event for more than 60 combined years, according to information in the 2023 Clovis Rodeo program.

Although temperatures were expected to reach the 90s on Saturday, parade-watchers were treated to pleasant morning temperatures with plenty of sunshine.